129. ACT 28:15. GRATITUDE AND COURAGE
Act_28:15. Gratitude and Courage
(An Anniversary Sketch.)
"He thanked God, and took courage."’97Act_28:15.
Paul was now a prisoner, and on his journey to Rome. That journey had been connected with many very striking events. The good providence of God had been signally displayed towards him from its commencement to its termination. He had now nearly arrived at its conclusion, when the brethren at Rome, being apprized of it, went to meet him; some of them to Appii Forum; others, to the Three Taverns; the former place about fifty-two miles, and the latter about thirty-three miles, from Rome. This evidence of affection, on the part of his brethren, greatly refreshed his soul; as iron sharpeneth iron, so did the countenance of these rejoice the heart of the apostle. For when he saw them, "he thanked God, and took courage."
Let us notice, I. The Apostle’s Conduct respecting the Past.’97"He thanked God." And, II. His Feelings in reference to the Future.’97"He took courage."
I. The Apostle’s Conduct respecting the Past.
"He thanked God."
Now the apostle’s conduct is a model for the imitation of believers personally, or of the church in her collective capacity. Let us consider it at present under the latter aspect, as including the conduct of Christ’s body, the church, and more especially as expressing the sentiments of that department of his church assembling regularly within these walls. Now, here two things are necessarily included: the grounds, and the manner, of our thanking God.
1. The grounds of our thanking God.
We should thank God,
(1) For our existence as a Christian church. The Lord hath made us a people, who were not a people, &c. There was a time when each and all of us were in the rude quarry of nature. Strangers, and foreigners, and aliens; without God, and without hope, and without Christ in the world. God called, and convinced, and saved us, collected us together, made us lively stories of his own spiritual house, and members of his family, and of the household of God. "This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes:" We should thank God,
(2) For our preservation as a church to this day. The emblems of the church are, a vessel at sea, exposed to the tempest and the storm’97a bush enveloped in flames’97a city besieged with powerful and malignant foes. God, notwithstanding, has preserved us. Jesus has slept in the vessel and when shipwreck seemed inevitable, has rebuked the sea, and hushed the storm to rest. God has spoken out of the bush; and the flames have not devoured, but purified his people. The Lord has dwelt in Zion; and has been round about her, as a wall of fire, and the glory in the midst of her. We should thank God,
(3) For the comforts and enjoyments his church has afforded us. How often has it been to us a happy retreat from the world, from its cares, and anxieties, and dangers! How often has it been to us a cooling shade in time of heat’97a refuge in time of storms! How often have we sat under his shadow, and his fruit has been sweet to our taste, and his banner over us has been love! Have we not found it often to be Beth-el to our souls’97the gate of heaven’97and we have sung the lines of the poet:
"My willing soul would stay,
In such a frame as this,
And sit, and sing herself away
To everlasting bliss."
(4) For the tokens of divine approval in our prosperity. The cause has not retrograded; her light has not waned; neither has she stood still; God has been rearing her walls; this man and that have been born in her; this man and that have said, "We will go with you, for God is with you." Zion’s stakes have been strengthened, cords lengthened, and friends multiplied. Then, can we do less, with such a delightful retrospect, than thank God? But then there is,
2. The manner of doing it.
How shall we thank him? It should,
(1) Be vocal. Our lips and voices, with a song of praise, should extol and magnify his holy name. "Is any merry? let him sing psalms." It should,
(2) Be spiritual. Our souls, with all their power, should be filled with the spirit of thanksgiving. It should,
(3) Be general, nay, universal. All his people should be engaged; the minister, the deacons, the elders, the young disciples, each and all should "thank God;" every heart provide a song, and every lip celebrate it in lively accents of praise. It should,
(4) Be harmonious. All in concert; all touch the strings of the harp together, until one long and loud chorus of praise fill He whole church, and ascend as one mingled cloud of holy incense to the throne on high. It should,
(5) Be practical. While lip and heart bless God, the life should adorn his cause, and his love should constrain us to devote all we are and have to his glory. Having seen the apostle’s conduct respecting the past, let us,
II. Consider his Feelings in reference to the Future.
For he not only thanked God, but "took courage." Now, the experience of the past should inspire us with confidence and hope, as to the future,
1. Because the difficulties and trials we have experienced we shall experience no more.
We may have similar ones; but as Israel only once passed through the waters of the Red Sea, so the individual and collective trials of the past are over forever. That part of the wilderness we shall never retrace. Those enemies, we shall see no more. Let us take courage,
2. Because, amid all changes, our Rock and Help is the same.
No God like the God of Jeshurun; God all-sufficient, and God unchangeable. His love, his pity, his power, never vary, never change. This, this is the God we adore, &c.
3. Christ, in all his merit, and sympathy, and fulness, remains unaltered and unalterable.
We have lived by faith in him’97stood fast in him’97borne fruit in him’97conquered through him’97we have had his merit to plead, his sympathy to succor, his fulness to supply us. We have them still, and we shall have them forever.
4. The Spirit’s efficient agency is still ours, to guide, support, and comfort us.
Well might we despond, if he withdrew his holy rays’97if he removed his seat from our hearts; but he is still within us, the firstfruits, the pledge of future blessedness, the hope of eternal glory; and he shall abide with his church forever. We should take courage,
5. Because the promises of God, in all their variety and richness, shall never fail.
These are the windows of the temple which let in the rays of comfort and joy. How sweet, how varied, how appropriate they are! Well may they be styled, "great and precious promises." Not one erased from the precious page. All intended for strengthening our hope and joy in God. Let us take courage,
6. In the prospect of meeting to celebrate the great jubilee of the church in the heavenly world.
When God shall gather all his saints together in one vast innumerable company on the plains of celestial light; and when all shall join in the grand and universal anthem, "Alleluia, Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth! blessing, and glory and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God, forever and ever. Amen."
Autor: JABEZ BURNS